May 11, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

Last week was busy busy busy.  We still have no idea where anything is and we are still learning everyone's name.  I hope this week will be more productive than last week.  We only had 4 lessons last week.

But...I did get to see my family yesterday which was super exciting!!!!  It's going to be the last time we will all get to talk together until Christmas.  I'm so excited for Jared to serve a mission, and I know he'll do great.

We still have not moved into Sister A's house, but hopefully we will be able to do that this week.  It will be really nice to finally unpack and get everything organized.

Well, I don't really know anyone yet, but we do have one investigator, Martha, that you can pray for.  She needs a testimony of the Book of Mormon.  And I will have more information next week.  

Have a great week.  

Love,

Sister Moon

Pictures: 

We got lost, BUT we found Moon Street

Welcome to Atla Loma...home of the rich

Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars?

Families are Forever!

May 4, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, it has finally happened!  I got transferred.  I will be whitewashing into the A W in the U Stake.  My companion is Sister M.  I don't know if you remember, but I was her companion for 6 weeks about 6 months ago.  We have no idea what this area is going to be like, but hopefully we can figure that out soon!

Last week was crazy.  We went on Exchanges and I went to C.  Guess who showed up at our apartment??  Sister S and her family.  It was such a tender mercy to be able to see them!!

Fransisco (Investigator) also came to church yesterday for the first time so that was exciting news!  I'm very sad to have to leave the M Ward.  It has been amazing being able to meet so many new people and to see the gospel bless their lives.  I cannot wait to start all over with this ward and help the people here.

And speaking of tender mercies.  I just heard Taylor Swift...heck yeah!  I am sitting in this computer room and this song starts to play.  I said, "Hey this kinda sounds like Taylor Swift's voice"...then about 30 seconds later I hear the chorus, "I've got a blank space"...and everyone and their mom talks about how Taylor Swift's Blank Space is the best.  Heck yeah...now I can honestly say, "I agree".

Oh my goodness!  Taylor Swift is coming on again.  So far this transfer is AWESOME!

Well, I hope everyone is preparing for summer!  It's going to be a good one.  Love,

Sister Moon

Pictures:

Exchanges with Sister M and Sister B

The D's

My Ex-Ward-Mates

April 27, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

Last week was AMAZING!!!!  John got baptized and it was sooo special.  Karla's son came down from Utah and baptized him.  John is going to make the best member ever.  They are already planning to go to the Redlands Temple in a year!!!!  Can you say endure to the end?

Valerie and Isaac also came to church on Sunday for the first time.  We extended a baptismal date to Valerie for June 13th and she said she'd pray about that!  Keep her in your prayers.  She has come such a LONG way since I first met her.  She has a sincere desire to do what God wants her to do, no matter how hard it is.  Her faith is so strong!

We also participated in Mormon Helping Hands, now called Just Serve Helping Hands, and we shoveled mulch for 3 hours.  Let me tell you what the first thing I'm going to do is when I get home (besides listen to Taylor Swift)...get a massage!  My back and shoulders are sooo messed up. 

We also had Zone Conference last week.  I got to see the lovely Sister R.  Zone Conference was amazing and I learned a lot about the enabling power of the Atonement.  We have to put forth some effort and do what God asks us then Christ will make the difference.  Christ is like infinity.  Infinity plus anything is still infinity, but we still have to do our part.  What we do is nothing compared to what Christ has done, but we must still do!

Our car got fixed last week so we were on bike for 2 days!  It was the best.  I love being on bike!  Sister R and I have decided that we're going back to A to be on bike :)...hopefully President receives that revelation too.  Transfers ar coming up next week so we'll see what happens.  I've been here for quite some time...I wonder where I'll go?

I hope you all have a great week.  Talk to you later!  Love,

Sister Moon currently serving where it is 91 degrees outside :)

Pictures:

Posterity picture!  My daughter, my other daughter, and my granddaughter :)

John's Baptism!!

Well we went to eat at the Bishop's house and guess who opened the door??  They said, in unison, "Welcome to our humble abode"

April 13, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

Last week was so amazing!!  I was sick basically all last week, but the good definitely outweighed the bad.  We had 13 lessons...which is always great, but we also had so many miracles!!

I read this story called the Ricciardi letter and it totally changed my perspective as a missionary.  I covenanted with God that I would be more bold and not waste time, but that I'd go out and talk with everyone and find the elect.  I decided that if I was teaching someone and their heart wasn't open and they weren't keeping commitments then we'd drop them for a while until they are ready to progress.

Well, about an hour after I knelt down and made that covenant with God, we went to Linda's and began teaching her a lesson.  She started freaking out and telling us that she was almost as perfect as the Savior, and that we had a lot of repenting to do, but that's not something that she needs right now, along with other interesting things.  Well, I remembered the covenant I had made, and I boldly said, "Linda the Spirit is not here right now, so we need to leave".  Then we closed our scriptures and got up and left her house.  It felt good to leave instead of staying and arguing with her.  I know God's timing is perfect, and now I know I really can be bold.

Karla (returning less active) and John (Investigator) both got blessings last night to help them stop smoking.  The blessings were amazing, and John even said, "Now I have enough faith to stop smoking".  I know they can do it!  Prayers for them would be wonderful!!

Jerome (returning less active) bore his testimony yesterday in sacrament meeting, and I was crying my eyes out.  He said he was so grateful that Sister Martinez and I followed the Spirit and found him because he never knew he as missing anything until he found the gospel again.  He bore testimony that he knew that God loved each one of us and he talked about his kids and how much he loved them.  He is so perfect!  Then his sister got up and bore her testimony about how she had been praying that her brother would find the gospel again, and she's so grateful that he did.  I am SO grateful that he did too because his testimony strengthened my testimony so much I cannot even describe how I feel.  I know that God looks out for all of His children and He loves us.  He gave us His son, Jesus Christ, so we can use the Atonement to get through the difficult times. We can have His Spirit to be with us as long as we are worthy of it.  I am so grateful for this knowledge. 

I hope everyone is having a great day and continues to have a great week.  Love,

Sister Moon

Pictures:

Sister M and I at the mission office!

Someone backed into our car :(

This is by far the weirdest thing I've had to eat on my mission.  It's called a Brazillian hot dog.  Let me explain: It's a hot dog dipped in tomato sauce and grilled green peppers with peas, corn, parmesan cheese, raisins, and crunched up barbecue chips on top.  Oh yes, it was....interesting...

April 6, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

Last week was pretty amazing!  We had 13 lessons, which is always a good number!  John is still planning to get baptized on April 25th so we are so excited for that!  19 days away!! 

Other than normal missionary work last week was exciting because of CONFERENCE!!!!

We watched all the sessions and there was a TON of great stuff in there, so I'll share some of my favorite quotes:

"No failure needs to be final"- Dale G. Renlund

"If the emblems of the sacrament are being passed and you are texting, or whispering, or playing video games, or doing anything else to deny yourself essential spiritual food, you are severing your spiritual roots and moving yourself towards stony ground." - Dallin H. Oaks

"How we live our religion is far more important than what we may say about our religion." -Robert D. Hales

"Faith in God engenders a love for the Sabbath; faith in the Sabbath engenders a love for God." - Russell M. Nelson

"Godly fear dispels mortal fear". -David A. Bednar

"Are we all just hanging reaching for something to hold, something to grip?  Is our only purpose in life to see how high we can leap then fail, and fall forever?"  ETERNAL NO" -Jeffrey R. Holland

There were many many more great quotes, but that's all I have time for today.  If you haven't watched Conference then you should go watch it, and if you have watched Conference then you should watch it again.  I can't wait for the Ensign so I can study all the talks again. 

I hope everyone has a great week.  Love,

Sister Moon

Pictures:

Our Zone after watching Conference!!

March 30, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

Well last week was pretty exciting!  Sister R and I were together for only 2 days and....she got the flu so we didn't even get to do missionary work :(.  But we got to catch up on everything, so that was a blessing!  Then on Wednesday we met our new companions.

My new companion's name is Sister M and she's from Ohio!  We are excited to stay in the  MV Ward and are already experiencing miracles, so that is such a blessing!  She has such a desire to serve so we are planning on working hard this transfer. 

Karla and John got married last week so now they aren't "living in sin"!  Yeah for that!  John is still planning to get baptized on April 25th.  Please keep them in your prayers as they are still struggling with smoking.  They are progressing, and are planning on stopping soon!  They just need that extra support and help that prayers bring :).

Pedro is still being creepy, and the Elders are still teaching him.  We asked President H what we should do with him.  And this is what he said, "The elders need to follow the spirit with Pedro. But the Sisters need to stay far, far away."  Haha I love it! 

Other than a bunch of changes, last week was pretty good!  Hope everyone is staying warm.  I know I am :)  Love you all,

Sister Moon

Pictures:

Sickly Sister R and I with Ginger Ale and Saltines.  What a scrumptious meal :)

SWIFT

Sister M, my new companion

March 23, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

I am staying in the MV Ward and I will be training again!  I'm so excited to stay in this ward.  We are teaching so many people and we are seeing so many miracles happen.  I just know this next transfer will be the best!  Both of the Elders in our Ward left, and Sister M left, and our Ward mission Leader is moving in a few weeks so this transfer is going to be very new and exciting!!

The great news about training is that I have a temporary companion for 2 days!  And guess who my temporary companion is?!?!  It's the one and only SISTER R!  I'm so excited that I get to spend some time with her and catch up and remember the good ole days in H!

Last week we taught 13 lessons.  It was very lucky :)  We were able to find a new investigator.  We didn't really find him last week, but we finally counted him as an investigator.  It's Jerome's (LA) son and we are now teaching him the lessons, whereas before we were just teaching Jerome about the church and trying to get him to come back.  Jerome is progressing so well.  He wants to baptize his sons, and become active in the church.  I love him so much.

We also taught John and Karla a lot last week.  John accepted a baptismal date for April 25th!!  Also they are getting married tomorrow so now they "won't be living in sin" says Karla :)  I'm so happy for them! 

I love this ward so much and I just know we are going to have a great transfer!!  Hope you all have a great week, and I'll hear from you soon.  Love,

Sister Moon

Pictures:

 It's impossible to get a good picture with our District

The Elders' investigator got baptized!

Ward-Mates For Life

The Hs!

March 16, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

FASTING WORKS!!!!  Last week was amazing.  We fasted on Tuesday to help us find, teach, and baptize.  Then guess what happened??  We were able to find 4 new investigators!  We were about to set a baptismal date with Aaron for April 25th.  We also were able to talk about baptism with Serena and then with John.  They both want to be baptized in April, but we haven't officially set any dates with them yet.  The Lord is totally in this work.  He is waiting to answer our prayers, but first we have to say our prayers so He can answer them.

John (Investigator) and his almost wife Karla (Less Active) came to church yesterday.  The topics we discussed were totally for them.  We talked about the Atonement and baptism and commitment.  Yesterday was so amazing.  John bore his testimony to us yesterday and explained why he knows the gospel is true.  He is my favorite person to teach right now.  I really don't want to get transferred because I really want to continue to help him and Karla on their journey to the temple :).

Transfers are in a week though, and Sister M and I both have the feeling that we are both leaving.  We are going to continue to pray that one of us stays so we can keep teaching the people that are finally starting to trust us, but we'll see what God has in store for us!

We did have some funny quotes from last week.

"What's a revelator?"  "Someone who receives revelation"  "Ohhhh soooo like me.  I received revelation once, but that was when I was on drugs so I don't think that counts"

"I have to clean up some lady's garage.  I have to wear gloves and a mask...there could be rattlesnakes, spiders, or dead people"

"I'm afraid of the hospital because you can come out dead!"

"He [Nephi] said he's going to speak plainly....he's a LIAR" 

And now for jokes:

How come Joseph Smith couldn't have dinner?

Because Moroni took all the plates.

How come the Lamanites always had bad knees?

Because of all the Nephites

Well I hope everyone has a great week.  I'll talk to you all later.  Love,

Sister Moon

Pictures:

The T Family

Karla and John

March 9, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

Last week was rough.  We set a goal to have 22 lessons and we tried really hard to achieve it, but unfortunately we had 22 cancelled appointments instead.  Literally everyone cancelled on us last week! We had some really good back-up plans though so we did end up still having 19 lessons.

The miracle of last week was that John (Investigator) and Karla (Less Active) actually came to church!!!!  Karla hadn't been to church since she met John, which was about 20 years ago, so it was a huge miracle to see them there.  I love them so much, and I know John will be baptized some day.  He has that desire, but he's working through some things right now.  After church we taught John the Plan of Salvation and the Spirit was SUPER strong!  He said he knows it's true and he will continue reading the Book of Mormon.  It is so amazing to see someone who is willing to change.  It has made me realize that I need to not be so stubborn sometimes :).  It's so much nicer when people change because of the gospel and don't expect the gospel to change.

This week we are fasting to find, teach, and baptize, and we have the faith that this week will be amazing!! Hope yours is great too. 

Love,

Sister Moon

P.S. We are lame and didn't take any pictures last week.

March 2, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

 

Last week was CRAZY!  We had a lot of interesting things happen!  We did teach 16 lessons though so that was a blessing.

 

We also had to drop our top investigator because he told Sister M that he was in love with her.  We told him that we couldn't ever come back to his house because that was very inappropriate.  We told him that the Elders could teach him, but he said he wasn't interested.  It's sad to see how that all went down, but it was an answer to our fast because we wanted to know what to do with him.  Now we know.

 

We also received a call from a member that lives in the A mission.  Her name was Tri (pronounced Tree), and she asked us if we could help out at a funeral.  We were asked to serve food at 2:00.  We showed up at the park and waited and waited.  Finally at 4:00 the people from the funeral showed up.  Everyone asked what we were doing there.  We awkwardly told them we were there to help serve food.  We waited for 20 minutes until Tri showed up.  Well guess what?  It just so happens that Tri was their limo driver and she wasn't even invited to this dinner.  It was a family gathering that she wanted to go to so she invited us to make it look like she was in charge of the food.  Oh my goodness.  That was the worst experience ever.  Now every time I see a tree I can't help but get upset.  Ugh.

 

Last week we also went on exchanges.  I got to be with the other Sister M that I served with in H so that was exciting!  We got to talk about the good 'ole days. 

 

Other than that we are just struggling with helping our investigators to progress.  Prayers for that would be great!  Hope everyone has a fantastic week.  Love,

Sister Moon

 

Pictures:

 

MM M- sandwich

Happy 13 Months :)

Linda asked us to take a letter to the post office for her.  She said it was very important that it got to where it was going.  It was a little bit heavier than a normal letter so she put a lot of stamps on it to make sure it was enough :)  CRAZY